BMW says no “i” SUV planned

BMW rules out the possibility of adding an SUV to its new line-up of “i” electric vehicles. The i3’s project manager, Roland Kowalski, told CarAdvice …

BMW rules out the possibility of adding an SUV to its new line-up of “i” electric vehicles.

The i3’s project manager, Roland Kowalski, told CarAdvice at the launch of the BMW i3 in Amsterdam that even though the brand trademarked a wide range of names, i1 to i9, the idea of an SUV doesn’t fit the i brand’s values.

“It may be possible [to have every i number] but for now we have the i3 and the i8,” said Kowalski. “We’re thinking about a few options. But we have time [to bring it to market].

“We’re not thinking about SUV on i models. For BMW i we are talking about an urban concept for megacities. “The thing with the SUVs is nobody, more than 90 per cent, needs four-wheel drive for the city. The SUV trend is only a thing about the space or the roominess.

“We think with i3 you also have a lot of space.”

While the i SUV is off the table, the next i-branded model will be the i5, a vehicle that it’s said to take the shape of a crossover with more cabin space.